Motor-vehicle.



J. DAIN.

. MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 10, 1909.

Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

imam 'J. DAIN. MOTOR VEHICLE. APPLICATION :ILED JULY 10, 1909.

1,082,504. Patentd Dec. 30, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JOSEPH DAIN, OF OTTUIVEWA, IOWA.

MOTOR-VEHICLE.

osaeoe.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

Application filed July 10, 1909. Serial No. 506,913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J OSEPH DAIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ottumwa, in the county of Wapello and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Motor-Vehicles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawmgs.

My invention relates to motor vehicles, and particularly to those of the type shown and described in my Patents Nos. 1,028,441 and 1,028,442, dated June 4, 1912, in which the power of the motor is transmitted to the differential at the rear axle by means of inclined friction disks operating to drive an intermediate driven disk carried on a propeller-shaft.

More particularly my invention is in the nature of an improvement upon the construction shown and described in my Patent No. 1,028,551, dated June 4, 1912, in which provision is made for connecting the propeller-shaft directly with the motor and disconnecting it with the inclined disks so that the vehicle may be driven directly from the engine without using the friction drive mechanism.

My present improvements have more particularly to do with the construction of the chassis, my object being to provide improved means for supporting the motor and the transmission mechanism and for connecting the propeller-shaft'with the differential at the rear axle so that the various parts of the motor and the transmission mechanism may be supported so as to be rigidly held in their proper relative position and in such manner as to be unaffected by vibration or road shocks. I accomplish this object as illustrated in the drawings and as hereinafter described.

What I regard as new is set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings,Figure 1 is a side view; Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section on line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan View; and Fig. 4 is a front View of the frame which supports the motor and transmission.

Referring to the drawings,5 indicates the main or body supporting-frame, and 6-7 front and rear springs by which the frame 5 is supported upon the front and rear wheels 8-9, respectively.

10 indicates the front axle, and 11 the rear axle. The latter is carried in the usual housing 12, which also incloses the differential, which may be of any approved type.

13 indicates a sleeve extending forward from the center of the housing 12 to receive the rear end of a sleeve 14 which loosely incloses the propeller-shaft so that the forward end of said shaft may be raised to carry the driven disk out of engagement with the inclined drive disks, as hereinafter described. The sleeve 13 is provided with a transverse slot 15 in which works a pin 16 carried by the sleeve 14, thereby permitting a limited rotary movement of the sleeve 14 in the sleeve 13, as best shown in Fig. 1.

17 indicates a frame, which carries the motor and transmission, as best shown in Fig. 3,18 indicating the motor, which is preferably a four-cylinder gasolene motor, 1920 the inclined drive disks, and 21 the intermediate driven disk, which engages the inner faces of the inclined disks 19-20 and is mounted to move longitudinally upon a propeller-shaft 22 which is loosely fitted in the sleeve 14. The front end of said propeller shaft is vertically movable so that the driven disk may be moved out of engagement with the inclined drive disks, a lever 22 being provided for moving the shaft for this purpose.

23 indicates the crank-shaft of the motor, which at its rear end carries a drive-wheel 24 which is provided at-its rear margin with a beveled portion 25 which engages the beveled edges of the disks 1920. The drivewheel 24 is provided at its rear face with a clutch-member adapted to coact with a clutch-member 26 carried by the driven disk 21 so that the propeller-shaft 22 may be driven directly from the crank-shaft without the employment of the friction disks 1920. hen operating on direct drive the driven disk is held up out of contact with the inclined drive disks. The mechanism by which this is accomplished forms no part of my present invention, and therefore is not illustrated in detail. It is fully described and shown in my Patent No. 1028,5451 above referred to.

The frame 17 is of suitable shape to carry the motor and transmission mechanism above described, being provided at its opposite sides with laterally-extending sleeves 27-28 which receive the shafts 29-30 which carry the disks 1920, as best shown in Figs. 2 and S. The motor is mounted upon the forward portion of the frame 17, preferably by laterally-projecting straps or arms 31 which rest upon the forward portion of the frame and are secured thereto, preferably by bolts 32. The frame 17 is supported from the main frame 5 by trunnions 333 1, which project laterally from the frame 1'? between its ends, preferably near the forward end thereof, as best shown in Fig. 3. Said trunnions are carried by a U-shaped frame or yoke 4.3, which extends under and is con nected to the forward aortion of the frame 17, as best shown in *igs. 2 and 4. The trunnions 83-3 1 are supported in suitable bearings 35 so that the frame may be rocked about such trunnions as may be necessary to accommodate itself to the strains to which the chassis is subjected. The rear portion of the frame 17 is supported from the sleeve 13 by the sleeve 14k, the forward end of which is connected with the rear portion of the frame 17, preferably by a sleeve 36, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 3,-the sleeve 14 being rigidly connected with the sleeve 36 so that they are in effect integral. Owing to the provision of the slot 15 and the pin 16 hereinbefore described the rear axle may be rocked to a limited extent axially about the sleeve 14, as may be necessary to accommodate itself to the roughness of the road, independently of the sleeve 1 1 and frame 17 so that the trans mission mechanism and the motor are not affected by such movement of the rear axle.

The propeller-shaft 22 is connected at its rear end with the difierential by a universal coupling 37, said coupling being within the sleeve 13, as best shown in Fig. 1.

38 indicates a housing, which is carried by the frame 17 and which incloses the lower portions of the disks 19-20 and the drivewheel 24.

39 indicates the crank-case, which is also carried by the frame 17, being arranged in the usual manner below the crank-shaft, as best shown in Fig. 1.

10 indicates the usual starting crank carried at the forward end of the crank-shaft, which, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, extends forward of the front cross-bar 11 of the main frame 5, which is offset, as shown at 12, to permit of the movement of the engine carrying frame due to the resiliency of the front springs 6.

4 1 indicates a shifting-lever for moving the driven disk 21 backward and forward upon the propeller-shaft, said lever operating through segmental racks t546 and a lever 47 connected with the rack 16 and with the driven disk 21,-connecting rods 48 serving to connect the lower end of the lever 17 with the hub of the driven disk 21. Any other suitable construction may, however, be employed for moving the driven disk 21. i

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the motor and the transmission mechanism are all carried by what is in effect a rigid frame pivotally supported near its front end by the main frame of the chassis and connected with the rear axle by a rotary connection in line with the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, which permits the rear wheels to accommodate themselves to the roughness of the read without straining the motor or transmission.

That which I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,-

1. In a motor-vehicle, the combination of a main frame having front and rear axles, a propeller shaft operatively connected with the rear axle and vertically movable at its front end, a supporting frame pivotally supported at the forward portion of the main frame, inclined friction disks journaled in bearings at opposite sides of said supporting frame, a friction disk carried by the propeller shaft and movable longitudinally thereof between said inclined disks, a motor supported by said supporting frame in ad vance of said inclined disks, said motor comprising a crank shaft, and a friction disk mounted on said crank shaft and engaging said inclined disks for rotating the same.

2. In a motor-vehicle, the combination of a main frame having front and rear axles, a propeller shaft operatively connected with the rear axle and vertically movable at its front end, a supporting frame pivotally supported at the forward portion of the main frame, inclined friction disks journalcd in bearings at opposite sides of said supporting frame, a friction disk carried by the propeller shaft and movable longitudinally thereof between said inclined disks, a motor supported by said supporting frame in advance of said inclined disks, said motor comprising a crank shaft, and a friction disk mounted on said crank shaft and engaging said inclined disks for rotating the same, the latter friction disk comprising a clutch member adapted to cooperate with the longitudinally movable friction disk for driving the propeller shaft directly from the crank shaft.

In a motor-vehicle, the combination of a main frame having front and rear axles, a propeller shaft connected to the rear axle and vertically movable at its forward end, a supporting frame pivotally supported by said main frame to swing about a transverse axis, inclined friction disks journaled at the sides of said supporting frame, a friction disk carried by the propeller shaft and movable lor itudinally thereof, said friction disk being adapted to engage said inclined disks, a motor mounted on said supporting frame, said motor comprising a crank shaft,

and a friction disk mounted on said crank shaft and adapted to engage said inclined disks.

4:. In a motor-vehicle, the combination of a main frame having front and rear axles, a propeller shaft connected to the rear axle and vertically movable at its forward end, a supporting frame pivotally supported by said main frame to swing about a transverse axis, inclined friction disks j ournaled at the sides of said supporting frame, a friction disk carried by the propeller shaft and movable longitudinally thereof, said friction disk being adapted to engage said inclined disks, a motor mounted on said supporting frame, said motor comprising a crank shaft, and a friction disk mounted on said crank shaft and adapted to engage said inclined disks, the latter friction disk having a clutch member adapted to operatively engage said longitudinally movable friction disk for driving the propeller shaft directly from the crank shaft.

5. In a motor-vehicle, the combination of a main frame having front and rear axles, a housing for the rear axle, a propeller shaft operatively connected with the rear axle and vertically movable at its forward end, a supporting frame pivotally supported by the main frame to swing about a transverse axis, a housing connected with the rear axle housing and with the said supporting frame and inclosing the propeller shaft, inclined disks journaled at the sides of said supporting frame, a friction disk mounted on the propeller shaft and adapted to engage said inclined disks, said friction disk being movable longitudinally of the propeller shaft, a motor mounted on the supporting frame, said motor comprising a crank shaft, and a friction disk mounted on the crank shaft and adapted to engage said inclined disks for driving the same.

6. In a motor-vehicle, the combination of a main frame having front and rear axles, a propeller shaft operatively connected with the rear axle and vertically movable at its forward end, a supporting frame pivotally connected at the sides of the main frame, inclined disks journaled at the sides in said supporting frame, a friction disk mounted on the propeller shaft and movable longitudinally thereof, said friction disk being adapted to engage said inclined disks, a motor mounted on the supporting frame, said motor comprising a crank shaft, a friction disk mounted on the crank shaft and adapted to engage said inclined disks for driving the same, and a lever mounted on the main frame and connected with said longitudinally movable friction disk for moving the same longitudinally upon the propeller shaft.

7 In a motor-vehicle, the combination of a main frame having front and rear axles, a propeller shaft operatively connected with the rear axle and vertically movable at its forward end, a supporting frame pivotally connected at the sides of the main frame, inclined disks journaled at the sides in said supporting frame, a friction disk mounted on the propeller shaft and movable longitudinally thereof, said friction disk being adapted to engage said inclined disks, a motor mounted on the supporting frame, said motor comprising a crank shaft, a friction disk mounted on the crank shaft and adapted to engage said inclined disks for driving the same, a lever mounted on the main frame and connected with said longitudinally movable friction disk for moving the same longitudinally upon the propeller shaft, and a lever for moving the front end of the propeller shaft vertically.

8. In a motor-vehicle, the combination of a main frame having front and rear axles, a housing for the rear axle, a propeller shaft connected to the rear axle and vertically movable at its forward end, a supporting frame pivotally connected with the main frame to swing about a transverse axis, a sleeve inclosing said propeller shaft, said sleeve being connected with said supporting frame and being rotatably connected with the rear axle housing, inclined disks journaled at the sides in said supporting frame, a friction disk mounted on the propeller shaft and adapted to engage said inclined disks, a motor mounted on said supporting frame, said motor comprising a crank shaft, and a friction disk mounted on the crank shaft and adapted to engage said inclined disks.

JOSEPH DAIN. lVitnesses:

J OHN L. JACKSON, MINNIE A. HUNTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing" the Commissioner oi Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

